Mentions légales (Legal Notices)
What does mentions légales mean?
Mentions légales are required legal notices on French websites under the LCEN. They identify the publisher/operator and the hosting provider, ensuring transparency for users.
How do mentions légales work?
Display a clearly labeled link (often in the footer) reachable from every page. Typical contents:
- Legal name and entity type
- Registered office address
- Contact details
- SIREN/SIRET and RCS registration
- VAT number where applicable
- Publication director
- Hosting provider details (name, address, phone)
## **Why are they important?**
Authorities can impose substantial fines for missing or incomplete notices, and e-commerce sites face additional consumer-law disclosures.
FAQs about mentions légales
If you target French users (e.g., French-language offers, shipping to France), you should include them.
No. Mentions légales identify the publisher and host; the privacy policy explains data use under GDPR.
Add terms of sale, pricing, delivery/returns, and other consumer-information requirements.
Yes. Enforcement can apply to incomplete or inaccurate disclosures.
In the footer of your website as “Mentions légales” or “Legal notice.”